Inpatient intervention for chronic functional encopresis in psychiatrically disturbed children

Abstract

AbstractTwelve children referred for short‐term inpatient psychiatric treatment also received intervention for Functional Encopresis. Treatment consisted of an initial regimen of cathartic medication (CATH MED) followed by prompted toileting trips after meals for bowel retraining (TRIPS). Maintenance medications were given throughout both conditions. Staff records were used to document the integrity and impact of treatment. Compared to baseline, CATH MED was associated with an increase in independent toileting but no reduction in accidents. Significant improvements were obtained on both of these measures during the subsequent TRIPS condition. Some association among demographic, integrity, and outcome measures was detected. There was modest evidence for maintenance of improvements at one‐year follow‐up. Implications for the delivery and evaluation of inpatient treatment for encopretic children are discussed.